Electrically conductive bonding films

ABSTRACT

An electrically conductive bonding film useful in bonding an IC or LSI with a lead frame. The film comprises (A) a polyimide resin obtained by reacting a tetracarboxylic dianhydride component, in which the content of a tetracarboxylic dianhydride represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein n stands for an integer of 2-20 amounts to at least 70 mole %, with a diamine; and (B) an electrically conductive filler. Optionally, the film may further comprises a thermosetting resin or an imide compound having at least two thermally-crosslinking imido groups per molecule.

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/122,868, filed Sep. 16, 1993 (now abandoned).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1) Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a bonding material for an IC or LSI and a lead frame, that is, an electrically conductive bonding film useful as a die bonding material. Further, this invention is concerned with a production process of the electrically conductive bonding film and also with a bonding method making use of the electrically conductive bonding film. The term "electrically conductive" will hereinafter be referred to simply as "conductive" for the sake of brevity, so that the term "conductive" as used herein means "electrically conductive" unless otherwise specifically indicated.

2) Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, Au-Si eutectic alloy, solder, silver paste or the like has been used to bond an IC or LSI with a lead frame.

Au-Si eutectic alloy has high heat resistance and moisture resistance but, for its high modulus of elasticity, is accompanied by the problems that it is prone to breakage When applied to a large chip and is costly.

Solder is inexpensive but is inferior in heat resistance. Further, its modulus of elasticity is high like Au-Si eutectic alloy, thereby making it difficult to apply it to large chips.

Silver paste, on the other hand, is economical and has high moisture resistance. Its modulus of elasticity is the lowest among the three bonding materials described above. It also has heat resistance sufficient to permit application of 350° C. thermocompression wire bonding, so that silver paste is now a primary bonding material for ICs or LSIs and lead frames.

Keeping step with the high densification of an IC or LSI in recent years, chips are becoming larger. Upon bonding an IC or LSI on a lead frame with silver paste, the above trend has led to difficulties in spreading and coating the silver paste on the entire surface of the chip.

In "MICROELECTRONIC MANUFACTURING AND TESTING", October, 1985, there is reported a conductive bonding film which contains a conductive filler filled in a thermoplastic resin and is useful in die bonding. This conductive bonding film is heated approximately to the melting point of the thermoplastic resin and is then compressed to achieve bonding.

In the conductive bonding film reported in the above magazine, selection and use of a thermoplastic resin having a low melting point make it possible to lower the bonding temperature. This can reduce damage to chips such as oxidation of a lead frame. However, its bonding force under heat is low so that it cannot withstand heat treatments after die bonding, such as wire bonding and packaging process. Use of a thermoplastic resin having a melting point high enough to withstand such heat treatments however results in a high bonding temperature. This has led to the potential problem that chips may be damaged such as oxidation of a lead frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to provide a die-bonding, conductive bonding film which permits heat treatment at relatively low temperatures upon die bonding like conventional silver paste and has high bonding force under heat The conductive bonding film is a self-supporting film.

In one aspect of the present invention, there is thus provided an electrically conductive bonding film comprising:

(A) a polyimide resin obtained by reacting a tetracarboxylic dianhydride component, in which the content of a tetracarboxylic dianhydride represented by the following formula (I): ##STR2## wherein n stands for an integer of 2-20 amounts to at least 70 mole %, with a diamine; and

(B) an electrically conductive filler.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method for bonding a semiconductor chip with a substrate, which comprises interposing the above electrically conductive bonding film between the chip and the substrate and then Subjecting the chip, the film and the substrate to thermocompression bonding.

The conductive bonding film according to the present invention makes it possible to perform die bonding at a relatively low temperature.

The bonding method according to the present invention facilitates bonding of the semiconductor chip with the substrate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The conductive bonding film according to the present invention can be produced, for example, by (1) dissolving in an organic solvent 100 parts by weight of the polyimide resin obtained by reacting the tetracarboxylic dianhydride component, in which the content of the tetracarboxylic dianhydride represented by the formula (I) amounts at least 70 mole %, with the diamine, (2) adding and mixing 1-8,000 parts by weight of the conductive filler (B) with the resulting solution, and (3) coating the thus-formed coating formulation on a base film, followed by heating.

Examples of the tetracarboxylic dianhydride of the formula (I), said dianhydride being useful as a raw material for the above-described polyimide, include:

when n=2 to 5:

1,2-(ethylene)bis(trimellitate anhydride);

1,3-(trimethylene)bis(trimellitate anhydride);

1,4-(tetramethylene)bis(trimellitate anhydride); and

1,5-(pentamethylene)bis(trimellitate anhydride).

when n=6 to 20:

1,6-(hexamethylene)bis(trimellitate anhydride);

1,7-(heptamethylene)bis(trimellitate anhydride);

1,8-(octamethylene)bis(trimellitate anhydride);

1,9-(nonamethylene)bis(trimellitate anhydride);

1,10-(decamethylene)bis(trimellitate anhydride);

1,12-(dodecamethylene)bis(trimellitate anhydride);

1,16-(hexadecamethylene)bis(trimellitate anhydride); and

1,18-(octadecamethylene)bis(trimellitate anhydride).

These tetracarboxylic dianhydrides can be used either singly or in combination.

The above tetracarboxylic dianhydrides can each be synthesized from trimellitic anhydride monochloride and the corresponding diol.

The above tetracarboxylic dianhydride is contained in an amount of 70 mole % or more based on the whole tetracarboxylic anhydride component. Amounts smaller than 70 mole % result in bonding films which require a high bonding temperature, so that such small amounts are not preferred.

Illustrative tetracarboxylic dianhydrides usable in combination with the tetracarboxylic dianhydride of the formula (I) include:

pyromellitic dianhydride;

3,3'4,4'-diphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride;

2,2',3,3'-diphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride;

2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)propane dianhydride;

2,2-bis(2,3-dicarboxyphenyl)propane dianhydride;

1,1-bis(2,3-dicarboxyphenyl)ethane dianhydride;

1,1-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)ethane dianhydride;

bis(2,3-dicarboxyphenyl)methane dianhydride;

bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)methane dianhydride;

bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)sulfone dianhydride;

3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride;

bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)ether dianhydride;

benzene-1,2,3,4-tetracarboxylic dianhydride;

3,4,3',4'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride;

2,3,2',3'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride;

2,3,3',4'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride;

1,2,5,6-naphthalene tetracarboxylic dianhydride;

2,3,6,7-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride;

1,2,4,5-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride;

1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride;

2,6-dichloronaphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetracarboxylic dianhydride;

2,7-dichloronaphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetracarboxylic dianhydride;

2,3,6,7-tetrachloronaphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetracarboxylic dianhydride;

phenanthrene-1,8,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride;

pyrazine-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylic dianhydride;

thiophene-2,3,4,5-tetracarboxylic dianhydride;

2,3,3',4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride;

3,4,3',4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride;

2,3,2',3'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride;

bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)dimethylsilane dianhydride;

bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)methylphenylsilane dianhydride;

bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)diphenylsilane dianhydride;

1,4-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyldimethylsilyl)benzene dianhydride;

1,3-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldicyclohexane dianhydride;

p-phenylene-bis(trimellitate anhydride);

ethylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride;

1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic dianhydride;

decahydronaphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetracarboxylic dianhydride;

4,8-dimethyl-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydronaphthalene-1,2,5,6-tetracarboxylic dianhydride;

cyclopentane-1,2,3,4-tetracarboxylic dianhydride;

pyrrolidine-2,3,4,5-tetracarboxylic dianhydride;

1,2,3,4-cyclobutanetetracarboxylic dianhydride;

bis(exo-bicyclo[2,2,1]heptane-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride)sulfone;

bicyclo-(2,2,2)-oct(7)-ene-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylic dianhydride;

2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride;

2,2-bis[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane dianhydride;

4,4'-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl sulfide dianhydride;

1,4-bis(2-hydroxyhexafluoroisopropyl)benzenebis(trimellitic anhydride);

1,3-bis(2-hydroxyhexafluoroisopropyl)benzenebis(trimellitic anhydride);

5-(2,5-dioxotetrahydrofuryl)-3-methyl-3-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride; and

tetrahydrofuran-2,3,4,5-tetracarboxylic dianhydride.

The above tetracarboxylic dianhydrides can be used either singly or in combination.

Illustrative of the diamine employed in this invention include:

aliphatic diamines such as:

1,2-diaminoethane,

1,3-diaminopropane,

1,4-diaminobutane,

1,5-diaminopentane,

1,6-diaminohexane,

1,7-diaminoheptane,

1,8-diaminooctane,

1,9-diaminononane,

1,10-diaminodecane,

1,11-diaminoundecane, and

1,12-diaminododecane; as well as

aromatic diamines such as:

o-phenylenediamine,

m-phenylenediamine,

p-phenylenediamine,

3,3'-diaminodiphenyl ether,

3,4'-diaminodiphenyl ether,

4,4'-diaminodiphenyl ether,

3,3'-diaminodiphenylmethane,

3,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane,

4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane,

3,3'-diaminodiphenyldifluoromethane,

3,4'-diaminodiphenyldifluoromethane,

4,4'-diaminodiphenyldifluoromethane,

3,3'-diaminodiphenyl sulfone,

3,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfone,

4,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfone,

3,3'-diaminodiphenyl sulfide,

3,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfide,

4,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfide,

3,3'-diaminodiphenyl ketone,

3,4'-diaminodiphenyl ketone,

4,4'-diaminodiphenyl ketone,

2,2-bis(3-aminophenyl) propane,

2,2'-(3,4'-diaminodiphenyl propane,

2,2-bis(4-aminophenyl) propane,

2,2-bis(3-aminophenyl)hexafluoropropane,

2,2-(3,4'-diaminodiphenyl)hexafluoropropane,

2,2-bis(4-aminophenyl)hexafluoropropane,

1,3-bis(3-aminophenoxy)benzene,

1,4-bis(3-aminophenoxy)benzene,

1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene,

3,3'-(1,4-phenylenebis(1-methylethylidene))bisaniline,

3,4'-(1,4-phenylenebis(1-methylethylidene))bisaniline,

4,4'-(1,4-phenylenebis(1-methylethylidene))bisaniline,

2,2-bis(4-(3-aminophenoxy)phenyl)propane,

2,2-bis(4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl)propane,

2,2-bis(4-(3-aminophenoxy)phenyl)hexafluoropropane,

2,2-bis(4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl)hexafluoropropane,

bis(4-(3-aminophenoxy)phenyl) sulfide,

bis(4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl) sulfide,

bis(4-(3-aminophenoxy)phenyl) sulfone, and

bis(4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl) sulfone.

The condensation reaction between the tetracarboxylic dianhydride and the diamine is conducted in an organic solvent. In this case, it is preferred to use the tetracarboxylic dianhydride and the diamine at an equimolar ratio or at Substantially an equimolar ratio. The respective reactants can be added in an arbitrary order.

Usable examples of the organic solvent include dimethylacetamide, dimethylformamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, hexamethylphosphorylamide, m-cresol, and o-chlorophenol.

The reaction temperature is below 80° C., preferably from 0° C. to 50° C. As the reaction proceeds, the viscosity of the reaction mixture increases gradually. It is here that a polyamic acid as a precursor of the polyimide is formed.

The polyimide can be obtained by causing the reaction product (polyamic acid) to undergo dehydration and ring closure. The dehydration and ring closure can be conducted by subjecting the reaction product to heat treatment at 120°-250° C. or by using a chemical process. When heat treated at 120°-250° C., it is desired to conduct the heat treatment while eliminating water, which occurs through the dehydration reaction, from the system. Here, benzene, toluene, xylene or the like can be used to azeotropically eliminate the water.

It is to be noted that the term "polyimide resin" as used herein collectively embraces polyimides and precursors thereof. Such polyimide precursors include polyamic acids and partially-imidated derivatives thereof.

To achieve dehydration and ring closure by the chemical process, an acid anhydride such as acetic anhydride, propionic anhydride or benzoic anhydride or a carbodiimide compound such as dicyclohexylcarbodiimide is used as a ring-closing agent. Here, a ring-closing catalyst such as pyridine, isoquinoline, trimethylamine, aminopyridine or imidazole can also be used as needed. The ring-closing agent or ring-closing catalyst may be used preferably in an amount ranging from 1 to 8 moles per mole of the whole tetracarboxylic dianhydride component.

Further, to improve the bonding strength, the polyimide resin can be added with a silane coupling agent, a titanium-base coupling agent, a non-ionic surfactant, a fluorine-containing surfactant, a silicone-type additive and/or the like as desired.

The conductive filler (B) employed in the present invention is added to impart electrical conductivity to the bonding agent. Powders of electrically conductive metals, such as silver powder, gold powder and copper powder, are used either singly or in combination. Inorganic insulating materials such as silica, alumina, titania, glass or iron oxide can be added to such conductive powders to extents not impairing the conductivity.

The proportion of the conductive filler can be 1-8,000 parts by weight, preferably 50-4,000 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyimide resin. Amounts smaller than 1 part by weight cannot obtain sufficient electrical conductivity, whereas amounts greater than 8,000 parts lead to reduced bonding ability.

Production of the conductive bonding film according to the present invention can be carried out in the following manner. First, the polyimide resin is dissolved in an organic solvent. No particular limitation is imposed on the organic solvent used here as long as it permits uniform dissolution or kneading of the polyimide resin. Exemplary organic solvents include dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, toluene, benzene, xylene, methyl ethyl ketone, tetrahydrofuran, ethylcellosolve, ethylcellosolve acetate, butylcellosolve, and dioxane.

The conductive filler is next added, followed by the incorporation of additives if any. The batch so prepared is then mixed. As an alternative, the batch can be kneaded by suitably combining a conventional mixer with a dispersion mixer such as a mix-muller, a three-roll mill or a ball mill.

A paste-like mixture obtained as described above is then evenly coated, for example, onto a base film such as a polyester sheet. The base film so coated is then heated under conditions sufficient to achieve full evaporation of the solvent employed, namely, at about 60°-220° C. for 0.1-30 minutes, whereby a conductive bonding film is produced. The base film is usually removed before the conductive bonding film is used for bonding purpose.

The conductive bonding film according to the present invention may further comprise, in addition to the polyimide resin (A) an the conductive filler (B), (C) a thermosetting resin or (C') a compound capable of forming a thermosetting resin when heated. The proportion of the thermosetting resin (C) or the compound (C') may range preferably from 0.1 to 200 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyimide resin.

The thermosetting resin (C) can be a resin which comprises an epoxy resin, a phenol resin and a curing promoter. The compound (C'), which is capable of forming a thermosetting resin when heated, can be selected from imide compounds containing at least two thermally-crosslinking imido groups per molecule.

Where the thermosetting resin (C) is a resin comprising an epoxy resin, a phenol resin and a curing promoter, the conductive-bonding film can be produced by (1) dissolving, in an organic solvent, 100 parts by weight of the polyimide resin (A), 0.01-200 parts by weight of an epoxy resin, 2-150 parts by weight of a phenol resin and 0.01-50 parts by weight of a curing promoter, the amounts of both the phenol resin and the curing promoter being per 100 parts of the epoxy resin the sum of the amounts of the epoxy resin, phenol resin and curing promoter ranging from 0.1 part by weight to 200 parts by weight, (2) adding and mixing 1-8,000 parts by weight of the conductive filler (B), and then (3) coating the resulting coating formulation on a base film and heating the same.

Where the compound (C'), which is capable of forming a thermosetting resin when heated, is an imide compound containing at least two thermally-crosslinking imido groups per molecule, the conductive bonding film can be produced by (1) dissolving, in an organic solvent, 100 parts by weight of the polyimide resin (A) and 0.1-200 parts by weight of the imide compound, (2) adding and mixing the conductive filler (B) and then (3) coating the resulting coating formulation on a base film and heating the same.

The conductive bonding film which contains the thermosetting resin or the compound capable of forming a thermosetting resin when heated features high shear bonding strength under heat. Its peel bonding strength under heat is however low conversely. It is therefore desirous to selectively use, depending on the application purpose, either the conductive bonding film containing the thermosetting resin or the compound capable of forming a thermosetting resin when heated or the conductive bonding film free of the thermosetting resin or the compound. Incidentally, the term "thermosetting resin" as used herein means a resin which, when heated, forms a three-dimensional network structure and hardens.

When the thermosetting resin is incorporated, the amount of the thermosetting resin may be preferably 0.1-200 parts by weight, more preferably 1-100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyimide resin (A). Amounts greater than 200 parts by weight may lead to poor film-forming property.

When a resin consisting of an epoxy resin, a phenol resin and a curing promoter is chosen as the thermosetting resin, the epoxy resin to be used is preferably one containing at least two epoxy groups per molecule. From the standpoints of curability and the properties of a cured product, an epoxy resin of the phenol glycidyl ether type is more preferred.

Examples of such resins include condensation products between bisphenol A, bisphenol AD, bisphenol S, bisphenol F and halogenated bisphenol As and epichlorohydrin; the glycidyl ether of phenol novolak resin; the glycidyl ether of cresol novolak resin; and the glycidyl ether of bisphenol A novolak resin.

The amount of the epoxy resin can be preferably 1-200 parts by weight, more preferably 5-100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyimide resin. Amounts greater than 200 parts by weight may lead to poor film-forming property.

The phenol resin preferably contains at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups per molecule. Examples of such phenol resins include phenol novolak resin, cresol novolak resin, bisphenol A novolak resin, poly-p-vinylphenol, and phenolaralkyl resins.

The amount of the phenol resin can be preferably 2-150 parts by weight, more preferably 50-120 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the epoxy resin. Amounts smaller than 2 parts by weight or greater than 150 parts by weight may lead to insufficient curing property.

No particular limitation is imposed on the curing promoter insofar as it is usable to cure epoxy resins. Examples of such curing promoters include imidazoles, dicyandiamide derivatives, dicarboxylic dihydrazides, triphenylphosphine, tetraphenylphosphoniumtetraphenylborate, 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole tetraphenylborate, 1,8-diazabicyclo(5,4,0)undecene-7-tetraphenylborate. They may be used in combination.

The amount of the curing promoter can be preferably 0.01-50 parts by weight, more preferably 0.1-20 parts by weight, both per 100 parts by weight of the epoxy resin. Amounts smaller than 0.01.part by weight may lead to insufficient curing while amounts greater than 50 parts by weight may results in poorer storage stability.

Such a conductive bonding film can be produced as will be described below. First, the epoxy resin, the phenol resin and the polyimide resin are dissolved in an organic solvent. No particular limitation is imposed on the organic solvent employed here as long as it permits uniformly dissolution or kneading of the above materials. Illustrative of the organic solvent include the solvents referred to above, such as dimethylformamide.

The curing promoter, the conductive filler and, if any, additives are then added and, in a manner similar to that described above, are mixed or kneaded, whereby a paste-like mixture is obtained. The mixture is uniformly coated onto a base film and then heated, so that a conductive bonding film is formed.

Where an imide compound containing at least two thermally-crosslinking imido groups per molecule is used as a compound capable of forming a thermosetting resin, examples of the compound include orthobismaleimidobenzene, metabismaleimidobenzene, parabismaleimidobenzene, 1,4-bis(p-maleimidocumyl)benzene, and 1,4-bis(m-maleimidocumyl)benzene, In addition, there are also imide compounds represented by the following formulae (II) to (IV): ##STR3## wherein X represents O, CH₂, CF₂, SO₂, S, CO, C(CH₃)₂ or C(CF₃)₂, R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ independently represent a hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom or a lower alkyl or lower alkoxyl group, and D represents a dicarboxylic acid residuum containing an ethylenically unsaturated double bond. ##STR4## wherein Y represents O, CH₂, CF₂, SO₂, S, CO, C(CH₃)₂ or C(CF₃)₂, R₅, R₆, R₇ and R₈ independently represent a hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom or a lower alkyl or lower alkoxyl group, and D represents a dicarboxylic acid residuum containing an ethylenically unsaturated double bond. ##STR5## wherein n stands for an integer of 0-4.

The amount of the imide compound employed in this invention can be preferably 0.1-200 parts by weight, more preferably 1-100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyimide resin. Amounts greater than 200 parts by weight may lead to poorer film-forming property.

Illustrative imide compounds of formula (II) include:

4,4-bismaleimidodiphenyl ether,

4,4-bismaleimidodiphenylmethane,

4,4-bismaleimido-3,3'-dimethyldiphenylmethane,

4,4-bismaleimidodiphenyl sulfone,

4,4-bismaleimidodiphenyl sulfide,

4,4-bismaleimidodiphenyl ketone,

2,2'-bis(4-maleimidophenyl)propane,

4,4-bismaleimidodiphenylfluoromethane, and

1,1,1,3,3,3,-hexafluoro-2,2-bis(4-maleimidophenyl)propane.

Exemplary imide compounds of formula (III) include:

bis[4-(4-maleimidophenoxy)phenyl] ether,

bis[4-(4-maleimidophenoxy)phenyl]methane,

bis[4-(4-maleimidophenoxy)phenyl]fluoromethane,

bis[4-(4-maleimidophenoxy)phenyl] sulfone,

bis[4-(4-maleimidophenoxy)phenyl] sulfide,

bis[4-(4-maleimidophenoxy)phenyl] ketone,

2,2-bis[4-(4-maleimidophenoxy)phenyl]propane, and

1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2,2-bis[4-(4-maleimidophenoxyphenyl]propane.

To promote polymerization of such an imide compound, a free-radical polymerization initiator can be used. Usable free-radical polymerization initiators include, for example, acetylcyclohexylsulfonyl peroxide, isobutyryl peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, octanoyl peroxide, acetyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide, cuamene hydroperoxide, and azobisisobutylonitrile. The free-radical polymerization initiator can be used preferably in an amount ranging approximately from 0.01 part by weight to 1.0 part by weight per 100 parts by weight of the imide compound.

In the above case, a conductive bonding film can be produced in the following manner.

First, the polyimide resin (A) and the above imide compound are weighed and are then dissolved in an organic solvent in a manner similar to that described above. The conductive filler and, if any, additives are added, followed by mixing or kneading to obtain a paste-like mixture. The mixture is then evenly coated onto a base film and heated, whereby a conductive bonding film is formed.

A semiconductor chip such as an IC and/or LSI can be bonded to a substrate such as a lead frame, ceramic circuit board, glass circuit board or glass-polyimide circuit board when a conductive bonding film obtained in accordance with the present invention is interposed between the chip and the substrate and then compressed under heat.

The present invention will hereinafter be described by the following Examples.

Synthesis Example 1

In a 500-ml four-neck flask equipped with a thermometer, a stirrer and a calcium chloride tube, 41 g (0.1 mole) of 2,2-bis(4-aminophenoxyphenyl)propane and 150 g of dimethylacetamide were placed and stirred. Subsequent to dissolution of the diamine, 41 g (0.1 mole) of 1,2-(ethylene)bis(trimellitate dianhydride) were added little by little while cooling the flask over an ice bath. After they were reacted at room temperature for 3 hours, 30 g of xylene were added. While sparging N₂ gas, the reaction mixture was heated at 150° C. so that xylene was azeotropically eliminated together with water. The reaction mixture was then poured into water. A precipitated polymer was collected by filtration and dried, whereby a polyimide resin (A₁) was obtained.

Synthesis Example 2

In a 500-ml four-neck flask equipped with a thermometer, a stirrer and a calcium chloride tube, 43.2 g (0.1 mole) of bis(4-(3-aminophenoxy)phenyl)sulfone and 150 g of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone were placed and stirred. Subsequent to dissolution of the diamine, 43.8 g (0.1 mole) of 1,4-(tetramethylene)bis(trimellitate dianhydride) were added at room temperature. They were reacted at 5° C. or lower for 5 hours, followed by the addition of 20.4 g (0.2 mole) of acetic anhydride and 15.8 g (0.2 mole) of pyridine. The mixture so obtained was stirred for 1 hour at room temperature. The reaction mixture was poured into water. A precipitated polymer was collected by filtration and dried, whereby a polyimide resin (A₂) was obtained.

Synthesis Example 3

In a 500-ml four-neck flask equipped with a thermometer, a stirrer and a calcium chloride tube, 32.8 g (0.08 mole) of 2,2-bis(4-aminophenoxyphenyl)propane, 5.08 g (0.02 mole) of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethyl-4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane and 100 g of dimethylacetamide were placed and stirred. Subsequent to dissolution of the diamine, 41.8 g (0.08 mole) of 1,10-(decamethylene)bis(trimellitate dianhydride) and 6.44 g (0.2 mole) of benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride were added little by little while cooling the flask over an ice bath. Subsequent to the completion of the addition, they were reacted for 3 hours over the ice bath and further for 4 hours at room temperature. Then, 25.5 g (0.25 mole) of acetic anhydride and 19.8 g (0.25 mole) of pyridine were added, followed by stirring at room temperature for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was then poured into water. A precipitated polymer was collected by filtration and dried, whereby a polyimide resin (A₃) was obtained.

Example 1

In accordance with the formulations shown in Table 1, two kinds of paste-like mixtures were first prepared. In Table 1, "TCG-1" means silver powder produced by TOKURIKI KAGAKU CO., LTD.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Formulations                                                                                      (unit:                                                                         parts by weight)                                            Material             No. 1  No. 2                                              ______________________________________                                         Polyimide resin      A.sub.1                                                                               A.sub.2                                                                 100    100                                                Silver powder (TCG-1)                                                                               150     67                                                Solvent (dimethylacetamide)                                                                         300    300                                                ______________________________________                                    

The paste-like mixtures (hereinafter called "varnishes") were separately coated to a thickness of 30-50 μm on polyester films and heated at 80° C. for 10 hours and then at 150° C. for 30 minutes, whereby two kinds of conductive bonding films were obtained. They both had good film-forming property (see Table 2).

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Film-Forming Property of Paste-Like Mixtures                                   Property           No. 1  No. 2                                                ______________________________________                                         Film-Forming property                                                                             good   Good                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Incidentally, in Table 2 (and also Tables 4 and 6 to be described later herein), the designations "good" and "poor" with respect to film-forming property have the following meanings:

Good: A film is stick-free and can be readily peeled off from a polyester film.

Poor: A film is sticky or frail so that it is difficult to peel it off from a polyester film.

Example 2

In accordance with the formulations presented in Table 3, six kinds of paste-like mixtures (No. 3 to No. 8; No. 8: control) were prepared.

                                      TABLE 3                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Formulations                                                                                               (unit: parts by weight)                                                             No. 8                                         Material                                                                               No. 3 No. 4                                                                              No. 5                                                                               No. 6                                                                               No. 7                                                                               (control)                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Epoxy resin                                                                            YDCN-702                                                                             N-865                                                                              ESCN-195                                                                            N-865                                                                               N-865                                                                               YDCN-702                                              50    20  10   10   7    100                                           Phenol resin                                                                           H-1   H-1 VH-4170                                                                             VH-4170                                                                             VH-4170                                                                             H-1                                                   24    10  6    6    5    48                                            Curing promoter                                                                        2P4MHZ                                                                               TPPK                                                                               2MA-OK                                                                              TPPK TPPK 2P4MHZ                                                0.5   0.4 0.1  0.5  0.7  1                                             Polyimide resin                                                                        A.sub.1                                                                              A.sub.2                                                                            A.sub.3                                                                             A.sub.1                                                                             A.sub.1                                                                             --                                                    100   100 100  100  100  0                                             Silver powder                                                                          TCG-1 TCG-1                                                                              TCG-1                                                                               TCG-1                                                                               TCG-1                                                                               TCG-1                                                 400   200 70   500  67   800                                           Solvent DMAA  NMP DMF  DMF  DMF  DMAA                                                  400   200 100  100  67   1000                                          __________________________________________________________________________

In Table 3, the various symbols or abbreviations have the following meanings:

YDCN-702: Product of Tohto Kasei Co., Ltd.; cresol novolak epoxy resin (epoxy equivalent: 220).

N-865: Product of Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Incorporated; bisphenol novolak epoxy resin (epoxy equivalent: 208).

ESCN-195: Product of Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.; cresol novolak epoxy resin (epoxy equivalent: 200).

H-1: Product of Meiwa Plastic Industries, Ltd.; phenol novolak resin (OH equivalent: 106).

VH-4170: Product of Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Incorporated; bisphenol A novolak resin (OH equivalent: 118).

TCG-1: Product of TOKURIKI KAGAKU CO., LTD.; silver powder.

DMAA: Dimethylacetamide.

NMP: N-methylpyrrolidone.

DMF: Dimethylformamide.

Each of the paste-like mixtures was coated to a thickness of 30-50 μm on a polyester film and then heated first at 80° C. for 10 minutes and next at 150° C. for 30 minutes, whereby a conductive bonding film was obtained. The film-forming property of each paste-like mixture is presented in Table 4.

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         Film-Forming Property of Paste-Like Mixtures                                                                             No. 8                                Property                                                                               No. 3   No. 4   No. 5 No. 6 No. 7 (Cont'l)                             ______________________________________                                         Film-   good    good    good  good  good  poor                                 forming                                                                        property                                                                       ______________________________________                                    

Example 3

In accordance With the formulations shown in Table 5, five kinds of paste-like mixtures, No. 9 to No. 13, were prepared.

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                         Formulations                                                                                       (unit: parts by weight)                                    Material                                                                              No. 9     No. 10    No. 11                                                                               No. 12                                                                               No. 13                                  ______________________________________                                         Polyimide                                                                             A.sub.1   A.sub.2   A.sub.3                                                                              A.sub.1                                                                              A.sub.1                                 resin  100       100       100   100   100                                     Imide  BMDADPM   BMDADPM   BMPPP BMPPP BMDADPE                                 compound                                                                              20        50        10    50    30                                      Silver TCG-1     TCG-1     TCG-1 TCG-1 TCG-1                                   powder 500       50        100   800   100                                     Solvent                                                                               DMAA      DMAA      NMP   DMF   DMAA                                    Other  BPO       DCPO      BPO   CHPO  DCPO                                    additive                                                                              0.1       0.2       0.01  0.003 0.1                                     ______________________________________                                    

In Table 5, the abbreviations have the following meanings:

BMDADPM: 4,4'-Bismaleimidodiaminodiphenylmethane.

BMPPP: 2,2-Bis(4-(4-maleimidophenoxy)phenyl)propane.

BMDADPE: 4,4'-Bismaleimidodiaminodiphenyl ether.

DMAA: Dimethylacetamide.

NMP: N-methylpyrrolidone.

DMF: Dimethylformamide.

BPO: Benzoyl peroxide.

DCPO: Dicumyl peroxide.

CHPO: Cumene hydroperoxide.

Each of the paste-like mixtures was coated to a thickness of 30-50 μm on a polyester film and then heated first at 80° C. for 10 minutes and next at 150° C. for 15 minutes, whereby a conductive bonding film was obtained. The film-forming property of each paste-like mixture is presented in Table 6.

                  TABLE 6                                                          ______________________________________                                         Film-Forming Property of Paste-Like Mixtures                                   Property No. 9   No. 10   No. 11 No. 12 No. 13                                 ______________________________________                                         Film-forming                                                                            good    good     good   good   good                                   property                                                                       ______________________________________                                    

Test 1

The shear bonding strength of each conductive bonding film obtained in Example 1 was measured. The measurement results are presented in Table 7. Incidentally, the test was conducted in the following manner:

The conductive bonding film was cut into a square piece as large as 4 mm×4 mm. The square piece was held between a silicon chip of 4 mm×4 mm and a silver-plated lead frame. Under 1,000 g load, the silicon chip and the lead frame were compression-bonded at 260° C. for 3 seconds. Using a push-pull gauge, the shear bonding strength was measured both at room temperature and also under heat, that is, after they were heated at 350° C. for 20 seconds.

                  TABLE 7                                                          ______________________________________                                         Shear Bonding Strength of Conductive Bonding Films                             Property               No. 1  No. 2                                            ______________________________________                                         Shear bonding  Room temp.  15.0   14.5                                         strength (kgf/chip)                                                                           350° C.                                                                              0.5    0.4                                         ______________________________________                                    

Test 2

The shear bonding strength of each conductive bonding film obtained in Example 2 was measured. The measurement results are presented in Table 8. Incidentally, the test was conducted in the following manner:

The conductive bonding film was cut into a square piece as large as 4 mm×4 mm. The square piece was held between a silicon chip of 4 mm×4 mm and a silver-plated lead frame. Under 50 g load, the silicon chip and the lead frame were compression-bonded at 200° C. for 3 minutes. Using a push-pull gauge, the shear bonding strength was measured both at room temperature and also under heat, that is, after they were heated at 350° C. for 20 seconds. From a comparison between Table 7 and Table 8, it is understood that the conductive bonding films (Nos. 3-7) containing the thermosetting resin have higher shear bonding strength at 350° C. than the conductive bonding films (Nos. 1-2) which did not contain any thermosetting resin.

                  TABLE 8                                                          ______________________________________                                         Shear Bonding Strength of Conductive Bonding Films                             Property               No. 3    No. 4                                                                               No. 5                                     ______________________________________                                         Shear bonding                                                                               Room temp.                                                                               11.0     10.5 12.3                                      strength (kgf/chip)                                                                         350° C.                                                                            2.0      2.5  3.0                                                                           No. 8                                     Property               No. 6    No. 7                                                                               (Cont'l)                                  ______________________________________                                         Shear bonding                                                                               Room temp.                                                                               9.8      13.4 --*                                       strength (kfg/chip)                                                                         350° C.                                                                           1.8       2.1 --*                                       ______________________________________                                          --*Measurement was not feasible as no film was formed.                   

Test 3

The shear bonding strength of each conductive bonding film obtained in Example 3 was measured. The measurement results are presented in Table 9. Incidentally, the test was conducted as in Test 2.

                  TABLE 9                                                          ______________________________________                                         Shear Bonding Strength of Conductive Bonding Films                             Property             No. 9     No. 10                                                                               No. 11                                    ______________________________________                                         Shear bonding                                                                             Room temp.                                                                               10.7      12.3  17.5                                      strength (kgf/chip)                                                                       350° C.                                                                           1.5       3.3   2.8                                       Property             No. 12     No. 13                                         ______________________________________                                         Shear bonding                                                                             Room temp.                                                                               15.7       11.3                                           strength (kgf/chip)                                                                       350° C.                                                                           2.3        2.8                                            ______________________________________                                    

Test 4

The peel bonding strength of each conductive bonding film obtained in Example 1 or Example 2 was measured. The measurement results are shown in Table 10. Incidentally, the test was conducted in the following manner:

The conductive bonding film was cut into a square piece as large as 8 mm×8 mm. The square piece was held between a silicon chip of 8 mm×8 mm and a silver-plated lead frame. Under 1,000 g load, the silicon chip and the lead frame were compression-bonded at 300° C. for 5 seconds. After they were heated at 250° C. for 20 seconds, the peel bonding strength was measured.

                  TABLE 10                                                         ______________________________________                                         Peel Bonding Strength of Conductive Bonding Films                              Property      No. 1   No. 2   No. 3 No. 4                                      ______________________________________                                         Peel bonding strength                                                                        >3      >3      1.9   1.5                                        (kgf/chip-250° C.)                                                                                          No. 8                                      Property      No. 5   No. 6   No. 7 (Cont'l)                                   ______________________________________                                         Peel bonding strength                                                                        1.7     1.0     2.5   --*                                        (kgf/chip-250° C.)                                                      ______________________________________                                          --*Measurement was not feasible as no film was formed.                   

From the results shown in Table 10, it is envisaged that the conductive bonding films (Nos. 1-2), which did not contain any thermosetting resin, have higher peel bonding strength at 250° C. than the conductive bonding films (Nos. 3-7) containing the thermosetting resin. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An electrically conductive bonding film consisting essentially of a self-supporting resin film, wherein the resin film is not sticky at room temperature, comprising:(A) a polyimide resin obtained by reacting a tetracarboxylic dianhydride component, in which the content of a tetracarboxylic dianhydride represented by the following formula (I): ##STR6## wherein n stands for an integer of 2-20 amounts to at least 70 mole %, with a diamine; and (B) 1-8,000 parts by weight of an electrically conductive filler per 100 parts by weight of the polyimide resin.
 2. The bonding film of claim 1, wherein said resin film further comprises:(C) 0.1-200 parts by weight of a thermosetting resin per 100 parts by weight of the polyimide resin.
 3. The bonding film of claim 2, wherein the thermosetting resin (C) comprises an epoxy resin, a phenol resin and a curing promoter.
 4. The bonding film of claim 1, wherein said resin film further comprises:(C') 0.1-200 parts by weight Of a compound capable of forming a thermosetting resin when heated per 100 parts by weight of the polyimide resin.
 5. The bonding film of claim 4, wherein the compound (C') is an imide compound having at least two thermally-crosslinking imido groups per molecule.
 6. A method for bonding a semiconductor chip with a substrate, which comprises interposing an electrically conductive bonding film of claim 1 between the chip and the substrate and then subjecting the chip, the film and the substrate to thermocompression bonding.
 7. The bonding film of claim 1, wherein the diamine is selected from the group consisting ofo-phenylenediamine, m-phenylenediamine, p-phenylenediamine, 3,3'-diaminodiphenyl ether, 3,4'-diaminodiphenyl ether, 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl ether, 3,3'-diaminodiphenylmethane, 3,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane, 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane, 3,3'-diaminodiphenyldifluoromethane, 3,4'-diaminodiphenyldifluoromethane, 4,4'-diaminodiphenyldifluoromethane,
 3. 3'-diaminodiphenyl sulfide,3,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfide, 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfide, 3,3'-diaminodiphenyl ketone, 3,4'-diaminodiphenyl ketone, 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl ketone, 2,2-bis(3-aminophenyl)propane, 2,2'-(3,4'-diaminophenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(4-aminophenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(3-aminophenyl)hexafluoropropane, 2,2'-(3,4'-diaminophenyl)hexafluoropropane, 2,2-bis(4-aminophenyl)hexafluoropropane, 1,3-bis(3-aminophenoxy)benzene, 1,4-bis(3-aminophenoxy)benzene, 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene, 3,3'-(1,4-phenylenebis(1-methylethylidene))-bisaniline, 3,4'-(1,4-phenylenebis(1-methylethylidene))-bisaniline, 4,4'-(1,4-phenylenebis(1-methylethylidene))-bisaniline, 2,2-bis(4-(3-aminophenoxy)phenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(4-(3-aminophenoxy)phenyl)hexafluoropropane, 2,2-bis(4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl)hexafluoropropane, bis(4-(3-aminophenoxy)phenyl) sulfide, bis(4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl) sulfide, bis(4-(3-aminophenoxy)phenyl) sulfone, and bis(4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl) sulfone. 